Geoff Field and Jason Kerr | Financial

GEOFF FIELD & JASON KERR

Prominent 2DayFM radio identity Geoff Field and Jason Kerr met in December 1992, while Geoff was working as a newsreader at 2GB. Jason was working as a producer there at the time. They've been inseparable ever since and celebrate 17 years together this year. Five years ago Geoff and Jason got married in Sydney's first illegal gay wedding live on radio, to highlight the discrimination against same-sex couples in Australia.

Why are you representing this same-sex law reform campaign?

Geoff: Because it is so important that gay people have the same rights as everyone else. We don't want anything more, but we certainly don't want anything less. We just want the same and I don't think that's asking for much in the year 2010, do you?

Jason: A campaign like this is really important, to get the message out there that things are changing, and we've got to make ourselves aware of what has changed.

Geoff: It's all very well having these changes, which are fantastic, but people have to take advantage of them.

Why should people wear these 85 law reforms with pride?

Jason: I think it is a huge step forward for Australia, these 85 laws reforms. It's well overdue, there's no reason why these reforms shouldn't have happened a long time ago. For the country to have changed is a really powerful and important thing.

Geoff: And it's no longer an issue to be gay or lesbian- I mean look at all the people in the media that are gay or lesbian and proud of it. We watch Ellen, Matthew Mitchum, Richard Reid. It's fabulous, there's no reason to be ashamed. And long overdue - here, here for these reforms, I say!

Have you or anyone you know experienced same-sex discrimination?

Jason: For us the most obvious example of same-sex discrimination is that we can't legally marry. Of course Geoff and I got "married" in a public way in 2005. We broadcast our "marriage" on the radio, but its not legally recognised by the government.

Geoff: In the past friends of mine have had problems with their super and their tax, trying to prove that they're a couple. If their partners passed on, the drama they have to go through in the court, just to prove that it was their partner, its disgraceful. Thank god for these new laws that have come in. Discrimination comes in many guises, there can be downright physical assault, verbal assault, which is disgraceful. And I think that subtle form of discrimination where people aren't included in things, or are made fun of or people laugh at them behind their back is also disgraceful. But I think society's changing. I see younger people coming up who just accept everyone for what they are, and I'm very excited about the future. I think that the days of discriminating against people on the grounds of their sexuality are slowly disappearing.

Do you think these reforms will make a difference to same-sex couples?

Jason: These reforms will help change attitudes in the community and this campaign is going to help kick that off. And it is important that people do make themselves aware of these changes because unless they do, passive discrimination as well as active discrimination is going to continue out there, and that's something we've all fought against.

Geoff: They've already made a difference to our daily lives, with our superannuation- we now have the one account, which is fantastic.

Jason: People are largely positive about the reforms, but I do think there's a lack of understanding of just how far they go. It's important people take advantage of these financial changes. Couples - get in touch with your superannuation fund and make sure that you have both you and your partner's name on the fund because you can do that now with these changes to the law. Also in regards to taxation, from the 2010 tax year, gay couples can actually be recognized by the ATO as a legitimate relationship.

Geoff: And if you do have trouble with your super fund - find another one! Because it's now enshrined in law that we can have joint accounts and that we are treated the same as other people, so make sure you get what you are owed. It is very important to not just let these benefits sit there. Take advantage of them. wearitwithpride.com.au it will tell you what you're entitled to, don't miss out on it because gay, lesbian and transgender people are now entitled to the same benefits as heterosexual people. You'd be a fool not to take advantage of it, so go to the website and get the information.

What kind of message do these reforms send to all Australians?

Geoff: To the truckies, the Mums, the Dads, the Grandparents, I just want you guys to know that we should be entitled to the same financial and legal rights as you guys because we are exactly the same. We're people, we just want the same. I keep saying we don't want anything less, but we don't want anything more, and that's not asking too much, I don't think.

What do you like about your T-Shirt design?

Geoff: As soon as it was given to me, I just thought- wow! It looks amazing, I want to go out tonight and wear it.

Jason: It's great. A piece of art - I love it and blue's my colour! That's so gay isn't it?

Geoff: And people are going to ask what it means and then we can explain about the 85 reforms.